Report finds US private jets emit up to 14 times more CO2 and evade taxes
A new Institute for Policy Studies report shows private jets in the United States emit far more carbon per passenger than commercial flights and contribute less than 0.6% of aviation taxes.
The Institute for Policy Studies released its "High Flyers 2026" report, revealing that private jet travel in the United States has expanded rapidly, with emissions per passenger 10 to 14 times higher than those of commercial airlines. By collaborating with more than 20,000 open-source flight trackers, the study built a Private Jet Emissions Tracker that captured spikes in private-jet activity around events such as the Super Bowl and the World Cup.
Private flights now make up roughly 16% of FAA-managed operations, yet they generate less than 0.6% of the taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The analysis notes that the median owner’s net worth is $190 million, and fractional ownership has grown 6% since 2019. Lobbying by the National Business Aviation Association, which spent about $2 million in 2025, helped secure substantial tax advantages for jet owners. Co-author Chuck Collins argues that ordinary taxpayers are subsidizing the ultra-wealthy’s high-emission travel, exacerbating climate change.
Why it matters
It highlights a growing climate and fiscal disparity as ultra-rich air travel expands while contributing minimally to aviation tax revenues.
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